Milk can punch



Nov. 27 1951 ENGLE 2,576,505

MILK CAN PUNCH Filed Feb. 13,- 1948 Il llill INVENTOR. (flaw/s5 frry/e.

Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to can openers generally and more particularly toa device for punchmg oppositely disposed openings in condensed milkcans.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a device forpunching openings in milk cans.

A further object of the invention is the pro vision of a milk can punchincluding punch means and guard members disposed adjacent thereto.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a milk canpunch comprising an integrally formed structure including a main framemember, a plurality of depending guards and a plurality of punch memberspositioned adjacent the said guards.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of aninexpensive form of milk can punch.

The milk can punch shown and described herein has been designed to forma simple, inexpensive and efficient device for punching oppositelydisposed openings in the top of a condensed milk can. It is well knownthat many hundreds of thousands of condensed milk cans are sold eachyear and that each can must be opened for use by some means and that canopeners, ice picks and other pointed instruments are generally employedfor the purpose with the result that injuries frequently occur to theperson attempting to open the can.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a device which willenable milk cans to be easily and safely opened without any danger ofinjury in handling the opening tool either before the actual Opening ofthe milk can or afterwards.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the milk can punch.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the milk can punch.

Figure 3 is a" side elevation of the milk can Figure 4 is a side view ofthe milk can punch.

Line 22 on Figure 4 shows the section of Figure 2.

. Figure 5 is a side view of the milk can punch taken on line 5-5 ofFigure 2.

By referring to the drawings and Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 in particular itwill be seen that a milk can punch has been disclosed which comprises acircular frame I0 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced,depending guard members I III positioned thereon and a raised handle I2fixed thereto and centrally thereof. Each of the plurality ofcircumferentially spaced guard members I II I forms, in effect, 2.depending leg, the lower portions of which are rounded as indicated bythe numerals I3.

2 By referring to Figures 4 and 5 of the draw ings it will be observedthat a pair of the guard members I II I are positioned in oppositelydisposed relation to one another and that a pair of oppositely disposedpunches l4-I4 are formed adjacent thereto and largely of the stock ofthe guard members II--II thereby forming vertical- 1y extending slotsI5-I5 in the oppositely disposed guard members II--II. The punches I4I4are blanked and formed so that they form, in effect, prongs dependingfrom the frame I0 and spaced slightly inwardly with respect to theoppositely disposed guard members II-I I. This formation of the punchesI 4I4 provides an unusually sturdy construction in that the material ofthe disc-like frame I 0 is not cut away adjacent the punches I4I4 as thestock for their formation is taken primarily from the depending guardmembers I I-I I.

It will be observed by referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings thatthe punches I4I4 are formed in a cross sectional V shape so as to insuretheir rigidity and their lowermost ends V-shaped and sharpened so thatthey readily punch the top of a condensed milk can such as shown inFigure 3 of the drawings and indicated by the letter C.

In utilizing the milk can punch shown and described herein it may beconveniently placed on the top of a milk can, as shown in Figure 3 ofthe drawings, and correctly lined up with the punches I I-I4 inoppositely disposed relation by reason of the guiding action of thethird guard member I I which is located midway on the periphery of thedisc-like frame I0 with respect to th punches I4I4 and the slotted guardmembers IIII positioned adjacent thereto. When the milk can punch islocated on top of 'a. milk can, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings,pressure brought to bear on the handle I2 will readily move the punchesI l-M through the metal of the can C and form suitable openings therein.

It will be observed that when the milk can punch is removed from themilk can C and placed on any other support, the punches l4-|4 areprotected from accidental engagement therewith by reason of theadjacently'positioned, slotted guard members l I which are longer thanthe punches 14-14 and positioned so closely thereto as to make itunlikely that any accidental engagement with the punches i l-I4 occur.It will thus be seen that a milk can punch meeting the several objectsof the invention has been disclosed in that it may be economically madeby a simple blanking and forming operation and the subsequent attachmentof the handle 12 to the shape thus formed.v The device may be plated,painted or otherwise finished as desired and may obviously be producedinexpensively by reason of its simplicity of construction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A milk can punch including a disc-like frame having three guardmembers depending from the peripheral edge thereof and circumferentiallyspaced with respect to one another, two of said guard members lying inoppositely disposed relation to one another and portions of the saidoppositely disposed guard members being cut away therefrom and bentinwardly and downwardly with respect thereto and pointed to form punchmembers.

2. A milk can punch including a disc-like frame having three guardmembers depending from the peripheral edge thereof and circumferentiallyspaced with respect to one another, a pair of said guard members lyingin oppositely disposed relation to one another and portions of the saidpair of oppositely disposed guard members being cut away therefrom andspaced inwardly with respect thereto and pointed to form punch members,the said punch members being cross sectionally V-shaped and pointed attheir lowermost ends, the remaining guard member positioned midwaybetween the said oppositely disposed pair of guard members.

CHARLES E. ENGLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,295,902 Jordan Mar. 4, 19191,434,881 Exner Nov. '7, 1922 1,471,601 Hasty Oct. 23, 1923 1,709,736Paterman Apr. 16, 1929 2,049,116 Harris July 28, 1936 2,111,022 DailyMar. 15, 1938

